WHEATON, IL: DuPage County
Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announces “Vote Anywhere” Election Day voting for 2022.
DuPage will be the first county in Illinois to launch the option for voters to
cast a ballot in any one of its 263 polling places, instead of limiting the
choice to a voter’s precinct polling place or vote center.
“Now voters may cast their
ballot conveniently at a polling place near their job or school, instead of
rushing to or from their home precinct,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says. “Best of
all, DuPage voters will no longer be turned away on Election Day for being in
the wrong polling place in the county.”
Registered voters already
could vote outside their assigned precinct polling place in DuPage County for
the 39 days of Early Voting. The County Clerk’s office is now extending this
option for an additional day, using the same Early Voting system, process, and
safeguards on Election Day.
“Two developments late in
2021 combined to create “Vote Anywhere” Election Day. In October, our office
purchased the new Hart Verity complete print-on-demand voting system, so we no
longer need to stockpile pre-printed ballots at polling places for just three
or four precincts. After check-in, each voter now receives their freshly
printed ballot on site. In November, the Illinois General Assembly passed
legislation allowing each county to set up multiple vote centers where
residents from all over the county can vote outside their home polling places
on Election Day,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says.
The number of precincts
remains unchanged from 2020 and the number of polling places in use is
estimated to be essentially the same as 2020, pending location availability. No
voter will be deprived of their local polling place in order to fulfill “Vote Anywhere”
Election Day voting. As always, strict security measures will be in place to
ensure one person, one vote.
Voters may apply now online
for a vote-by-mail application for the Primary Election or for permanent
vote-by-mail to receive a ballot in all future elections:
https://www.dupagecounty.gov/Election/VoteByMail/
May 19th is the first day of
Early Voting at the DuPage Fairgrounds. Starting June 13th, 22 Early Voting
sites will open – four more than 2020 and double the number from 2018. June
28th is Primary Election Day with 263 polling locations.
“I’m gratified to bring our
citizens so many ways to vote. I want the people of DuPage County to have so
many voting options that they’re practically tripping over them. Voting has
never been easier, more convenient, or more secure” County Clerk Kaczmarek
adds. “Now that everything is in place, I’m urging registered voters to take
advantage of it and exercise their precious right to vote.”
Voter turn-out in the 2018
Primary Election in DuPage County was 24.88%, and 19.19% for the 2014 Primary.
DuPage County currently has 636,173 registered voters.
Next week, each DuPage County
voter will receive a mailer containing their polling place designation, updated
district information and a permanent vote-by-mail application.